Wednesday, September 3, 2014

ATC For the First Time

Hello, I'm glad you stopped by to see my ATC's I've made for A Vintage Journey's Challenge #13 A Little Touch of Tim ATC's Only.  This is my first time making ATC's although I have owned Tim's ATC Bigz die for years.  That's what I love about these challenges...they challenge me to try new things! If you think this post is long, just go to my post titled "Plan B" and you'll be thankful this is so short.

When I first laid out that tiny little surface on my craft mat, I just stared at it.  I really had no idea what I could do on such a small piece of cereal box with the rounded corners (yes, I cut up my husband's cheerios box he threw into the recycle bin this morning).  I knew it was going to have to be something for Halloween, because now is the time of year that my mind turns everything my eyes see into something for my favorite holiday.


 I started by cutting my cereal box into the ATC's with my die, but ended up using that for only one of the six that I made. I'll be honest with you here; this one is NOT an ATC.  I thought I had cut the scrap of cardstock out, only to realize when it was COMPLETELY made, that I didn't cut it down to the correct size, and it was too late at that point.  But I like how it turned out so I took a photo anyway.   I re-did it using an ATC sized piece of cardstock (all were cut from Tim's die). Just for fun, see if you can find at least five differences other than the size and the shading.



I don't think it came out as well, but I like what I did on this with the tombstones and the extra bat. No that is not guano, that is smoke from the chimney of the house stamp!  The tree wouldn't fit, nor would "Come if You Dare".  The house and the tombstones  stamps are ones I purchased at a yard sale, so I'm sorry I don't know who made them, but I love them.  Bats are Martha Stewart and Oct. 31st is from a  Hobby Lobby store brand set. The moon is a mask I made using a circle punch (used both the negative and the positive). All images stamped with Archival and all coloring done with Distress Ink.smoke 


The ATC above is cut from a piece of white cardstock.  I was anxious to work on these and didn't want to wait for gesso to dry on the cereal box ATC's I cut out.  I'll use them later...I'm already hooked on these little crafty things, and they won't go to waste! I used a TCW stencil (creepy tree) I spritzed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and did some reverse stenciling. When dry, I distressed with Faded Jeans and Black Soot Distress Inks and applied Seedless Preserves Distress stain with a baby wipe (I don't have any Seedless Preserves DI).  The images are from Martha Steward and Hobby Lobby, stamped in Archival.

The tree stenciling shows up better in this shot.

My third one is similar in that  I used the reverse stenciling that I did in the one above, but I cut my ATC first from watercolor paper. I used the same color DIs and the purple stain wiped on with the wipe.  I dragged my edges through the leftover spray from spritzing my stencil.  I got the faded areas along the top and bottom by accident (well, the bottom was by accident and then I TRIED to reproduce the effect on the top edge-Ha! I spritzed it with a little TOO much water) when I lifted my paper and it started to run. I think it looks like soot-pretty cool!

I blasted this dry with my heat tool and stamped the images (Martha Stewart (crow), Hobby Lobby (sentiment) and unknown yard sale stamp--love that skeleton) with Archival ink.  I had some corners from an upcoming ATC cut which had Texture Paste and  Crackle Paint on them.  I stained them with coordinating Distress Stains and added them to two of the corners.


Next up is one of my favorites.  This has the most wonderful leather-like soft texture to it, so not only is it nice to look at, it has a lovely hand as well.


This is the one from which the corners came from on the previous card. I started with plain white card stock, smeared texture paste all over it, like spreading peanut butter on bread, and allowed that to dry, while I worked on others.  (I'm not showing these in the order I made them--I think each one got better as I got on a roll.  By the way, I accomplished a lot while making these--I did 5 loads of laundry, and tonight while uploading the photos, I folded and put away those 5 loads.) Next  I dabbed and swiped on various Distress stains and again, allowed it to dry.  Then I stamped Tim's Stamper's Anonymous images from Trick or Treat with Archival ink. This is one happy skeleton!


Next up is my very different ATC--I just wanted to try everything on these.  I really just happened to have this scrap of vintage dictionary page on my work table.  So I built my card around that.  The dictionary entries are carrion and carrion crow. The definition is gross--look it up if you can't see it and are interested--it's quite Halloweeny.


There is a background to this, but  just does not show up in the photos.  It is the same TCW tree stencil spritzed with Glimmer mist and reverse stenciled onto white card stock, then dried.  I Mod Podged the dictionary scrap on my background.  I layered it with an acetate transparency I had in my stash and attached it with Tim's Tiny Attacher. I love this tool!

The feather was attached with the Tiny Attacher.

I added a feather across the bottom.  This is a real feather; it is very old and very creepy.  I found it and others, which I regretfully threw away, in a box of  vintage dolls I picked up an estate sale about a year ago. I save everything! (Sorry for the blurry photo.)


I stamped Tim's Regal Flourish in purple Staz-On, painted Tim's Idea-ology numerals with silver Distress paint and topped off my card with them.

Last, but not MY last forever, is this cute little ATC--I had to do a cute one as a counterpoint to the one previously noted.  This one I did make with the cereal box, as originally planned. 


After I die cut my cereal box, I ran it through with Tim's Regal Flourishes Texture Fade, then distressed it with Distress Ink.  I rubbed on a variety of metallic rubs--the upper left corner is sparkly antique gold but does not show up in the photo.  I can't add another photo at this time to show you, since my daughter has to do some trick to get my photos to upload  from my phone to hers to the computer. And she's in bed now.  One of these days I'll get that straight with the people over at the phone store. I digress...This is one of those cards you have to move around in the light to catch it's real beauty.  Lastly, I stamped the background with Tim's Regal Flourish.

The owl and jack-o-lantern are fussy cut from a card a friend gave me.  I toned them down a notch with Walnut DI and added  yellow and orange Stickles-don't you love those owl's eyes???

I cut out a computer generated phrase and inked it with Distress.  I added the trim from my stash and popped up the embellishments with foam tape.

Well, this has been so much fun!  I really appreciate the opportunity to play along at A Vintage Journey in their Challenge #13 A Little Touch of Tim ATC's Only.  And I appreciate you stopping in to have a look; I hope you'll take a minute to comment on my lovelies.

22 comments:

  1. Wow your ATC are beautiful.
    Thanks for your kind words on my blog.

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    1. Thank you for visiting and for your lovely comment! This was a fun challenge!

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  2. Wonderful wonderful wonderful Atc's Sara! Love the skeleton with his hand out.....come if you dare! Very spooky. Great backgrounds too. Karen.x

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    1. Thank you, I'm happy you liked my skeleton. He was one I've never used before, and fit perfectly on these little ATC's. So happy to be able to participate in this challenge--it opened my eyes to a whole new art form.

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  3. OMGoodness , Sara, what a showcase of wonderfully made and created ATC's... I love each and everyone of them more than the last one... love this collection of ATC's. The stamps, coloring and the whole completed ATC is each perfect.... LOVE THEM ALL... really wonderfully done. Thank you also for all your kind and loving words you left at my blog... I love your work/play and hope you continue to create ATC's... they are a nice way to see how something is going to work on a larger scale.. or you now have the beginnings of 11 cards... what a showcase.. thanks so much for sharing.... Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie

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    1. Wow, Bonnie! Thank you, again, for such a wonderful encouraging compliment! I really appreciate your comment and respect your words and eye as an artist. I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll be creating in the future and to making more of these little cards. Sara Emily

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  4. These are fabulous ATC's. Would never have known that these are you first ones. Thank you for your lovely comment on my Pear Thinking. You asked if I made the flower - the answer is no, I did not. I bought a package of mixed flowers from Hobby Lobby a while back.

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    1. Thank you for coming to my blog and commenting. How sweet of you! I think I really have fallen for these little cards, but admittedly I just couldn't figure it out at first. My work has been getting bigger and bigger having gone from just cards earlier this year to mixed media and 3 D crafts. So this was quite a challenge. I love the colors in that flower, but the pear, too!!! Gorgeous!

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  5. Sara...your Halloween ATCs are awesome! I can't believe you've not made ATCs before! These are amazingly detailed. So much on such a small space! Love all of them! I am going to have to check out that Hobby Lobby sentiment! I love the font of "Come If You Dare". Very cool! I also wanted to thank you for your very sweet thoughts you left on my blog. I cannot wait to see your clock! Judging from all of the wonderful vintage detail you've put on these ATCs (still can't believe you've not made them before!), your clock will be fabulous! <3 Candy

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    1. Thank you, Candy. What a wonderful compliment coming from you, my hero of Tim's clock! Really loved that, and you got my mind working and so has Tim. So many ideas, so little time! Not too many days left on that, but I suppose it will come together in the end...I work very creatively under pressure-- (see Plan B on my blog, and you'll see what I mean). I think the "Come If You Dare" Hobby Lobby set was a clearance item from either last year or the year before. Are you commenting as a Creative Guide from A Vintage Journey? I didn't see any comments from them, and the link up is closed. I was beginning to worry I didn't follow the rules...I'm kind of new to this blog thing. Anyway, I'm thrilled that you liked my ATC's, and truly, this is my first try at these. It won't be my first clock though:); I altered a real one for my son's birthday (Post-Birthday Time).

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  6. Fabulous first time ATC collection great use of techniques on them all, they are addictive and I think you are hooked lol.

    MaggieH

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    1. Thank you! You are so sweet! Yes, they seem to be addictive.

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  7. Well, having produced a set of stunning ATCs like this Sara I hope you'll be creating lots more! Each one is so beautifully designed and combines individual and clever ideas. Thank you so much for joining us at A Vintage Journey. Jenny x

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    1. Jenny,
      Thank you for you encouraging comment. This was a fun, motivating challenge, and the inspiration was fabulous!

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  8. Love your fabulous spooky ATCs - so happy you were inspired to try something new! I love the leathery skeleton one, and the fabulous silhouetted branches with the dictionary page too. Thanks so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey.
    Alison x

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  9. Thank you so much for your sweet comment; those two are in my favorites as well!

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  10. Sara! What a fantastic collection of spookylicious ATCs!! Love them all! These are really, really cool!
    Oh, it's so good to be back and explore crafters' creations... :) xxx

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    1. Oh, my! I just used that word on a comment I left on someone's blog! Thank you for visiting and for your sweet comment! I know what you mean about being back...my internet just came back after about 36 hours without, and it feels like a month.

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  11. Hi Sara. Could do with you checking out this post - just saying!... http://pushingtherightbuttons.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/destination-inspiration-at-vintage.html

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    1. Aren't you so funny! I am so excited to be a winner of one of your ATC's, and I'm on cloud 9! Thank you so much for leaving me this clue! You are sweet to do that:).

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  12. Hiya Sara your ATC's are brilliant, I had the opposite problem I was so used to doing small I couldn't go large. I would love to swap with you any of those. let me know
    Jill

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    1. Hi Jill,
      Congratulations on your well deserved win over at the Vintage Journey. Good going, girl! I knew you were a winner. I'll be in touch over at your blog or you can e-mail me at capon@bellsouth.net

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Thank you for leaving your comments...they mean so much to me.